Mom and Dad keep a close watch from the end of the aisle, no matter the destination.

Menu choices are negotiable. We debate our meals right until we’re at the cash register, and sometimes after we’ve checked out.

Most places we’ve visited already have a culture of hospitality, because they’re located in well-known tourism destinations, like Orlando, Lake Tahoe, Calif., or Summit County, Colo. There’s a welcoming vibe and smiles as well as a nod or acknowledgement of your existence.

But I’ve also occasionally witnessed customers behaving badly at the store. It’s a, “Hey-I’m-on-vacation-here-treat-me-special” attitude. Or their kids throwing grapes at each other in produce or moving boxes in the cereal aisle.

Lately, we’ve begun to notice that the grocery stores that cater to tourists seem to have adopted to these misbehaving visitors. The employees act indifferent, even hostile — almost as if they expect to be pelted by produce at any minute.

Is there such a thing as a “tourist” grocery store? And how do you know if you’re in one?

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Kari Haugeto

Kari Haugeto is the editor and publisher of Away is Home and the founding curator of the USA Today New Media Awards. She made her operatic debut at Lincoln Center at age 7, has trained Naval Academy midshipmen how to Scuba dive, and has more postgraduate degrees than children. She's addicted to spirited arguments (especially ones she can win) and Ariana's adorable cat videos. Contact her at [email protected].
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7 thoughts on “Tourists destroyed our grocery store”

I think that as a tourist I am disgusted by the behavior of other tourist when we travel. You’re right…it’s an attitude of “I’m on vacation so who cares?!” and I can see why they would be a little on edge.
Although, customer service is always every store’s first priority so I would have just written something on their comments board.

Well, as someone who lives in a tourist town, I’m a little embarrassed by the behavior of the tourists who come into the grocery stores. But I don’t think that’s an excuse for the employees to forget all of their training. Seriously, you get better service at a soup kitchen.

Yeah, tourists behave badly sometimes. Is it because they’re rushed and stressed, in an unfamiliar store where they don’t know where anything is, possibly in a foreign country where they’re trying to shop by pictures or translate, figuring the price in an unfamiliar currency or maybe just fresh off of a nine hour car trip and the kids are loose for the first time in hours. A little understanding on all sides goes a long way